Some Bicyclists Make All Bicyclists Look Bad

[Amalitza]

If you don’t want your commute anymore, can I have it? I’ll trade you for mine, even stevens.

I should probably add that to the coveting thread; what I covet– all y’all’s commutes.

[americancyclo]

@ml85 27052 wrote:

I was legitimately trying to figure out how to deal with rogue bicyclists

Breathe.

Take a breath, relax, and let it go.

Or if you’re really concerned and feel personally responsible to change people, volunteer to help WABA or BikeArlington teach safe cycling classes, become an outreach member. That’s really the best way to change people. You’ll make a much bigger difference that way. Be the change you want to see.

http://www.waba.org/get_involved/index.php
http://www.bikearlington.com/pages/get-involved/

[rcannon100]

And understand that (a) you are probably talking to a community of unrogue bicyclists who (b) constantly get identified as token bike-commuters by our office mates, our neighbors, our “friends” who then proceed to unload on us everything that is wrong with cyclists.

I heard a cyclist once say the following:

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Everywhere everyone are rogue members of the transportation system. Cars. Trucks. Buses. Trains. Plains. Cyclists. Pedestrians (ug, pedestrians). It aint no different no where. So how to deal with rogue bicyclists: 7 things you should give up to be a happy cyclist: “As cyclists we are faced with hundreds of little decisions like this every day. We can either choose to be rattled or worry about more important things. “

Other than that guy I had to deal with today! OMG can someone tell fat guy cyclists that it is a sin against nature to not wear a shirt long enough to cover you butt crack. OOOOOOOH!

[consularrider]

@rcannon100 27083 wrote:

…Other than that guy I had to deal with today! OMG can someone tell fat guy cyclists that it is a sin against nature to not wear a shirt long enough to cover you butt crack. OOOOOOOH!

Or wear bib shorts.

[ShawnoftheDread]

RCannon knows some pretty highly placed (and old) cyclists.

[Terpfan]

@ml85 27052 wrote:

There’s only so much a bicyclist can do to stay safe from getting hit by cars, but rogue bicyclists endanger everyone, which is why I’m concerned by this – bicyclists are in a uniquely vulnerable position. I’ve seen stories of drivers intentionally running down bicyclists, and these idiots I cited in my examples are probably why. I just don’t want to get hurt.

The presumption is that the rogue bicyclists are causing the angry driver to act irrational. I can tell you firsthand that some rogue drivers are just insane people that will leave his (or her) car in the middle of I Street and tackle you for basically being on a bike crossing the street with the crosswalk legally. And there are others who will stop their car for you at a crossing when they don’t have to (National MVT crossing).

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but dbags will be dbags. Countless politicians have attempted to regulate or legislate out stupidity to no avail. The best we can do is set a good example and be good cyclists.

Another thing giving cyclists a bad rep is the kids riding around on cycles stealing iphones, shooting people evidently, and groping people. Will people respond by knocking down every cyclist? Eh, I don’t see that happening. Ergo, nothing you can do except post the best stories possible here and/or shame them by saying something or posting a photo (presuming you’re stopped) showing them as a horrible cyclist.

[mstone]

hey, if we want to really start talking about cyclists making the club look bad, can someone tell me why they even make semi-transparent white shorts? darn things are a menace and should be illegal.

[rcannon100]

@ShawnoftheDread 27087 wrote:

RCannon knows some pretty highly placed (and old) cyclists.

Who?? Ke$ha?!?!

[KelOnWheels]

@americancyclo 27079 wrote:

Or if you’re really concerned and feel personally responsible to change people, volunteer to help WABA or BikeArlington teach safe cycling classes, become an outreach member. That’s really the best way to change people. You’ll make a much bigger difference that way. Be the change you want to see.

I’m thinking of doing the LCI course through WABA once I get some more miles on the legs. I miss teaching and it sounds way more fun than getting more IT certs. :p

[ml85]

Well then sorry for wasting everyone’s time. And FYI, if you feel the need to just insult and talk down to someone, rather than provide constructive feedback, you’re more than welcome to not say anything.

http://www.tbd.com/blogs/tbd-on-foot/2011/09/d-c-driver-intentionally-strikes-a-bicyclist-in-waba-s-new-video-12678.html

[TwoWheelsDC]

@ml85 27145 wrote:

Well then sorry for wasting everyone’s time. And FYI, if you feel the need to just insult and talk down to someone, rather than provide constructive feedback, you’re more than welcome to not say anything.

http://www.tbd.com/blogs/tbd-on-foot/2011/09/d-c-driver-intentionally-strikes-a-bicyclist-in-waba-s-new-video-12678.html

I think most of the feedback was constructive and I don’t think anyone meant to insult you. The issue I think most people have, is when a person comes on the forum and their very first thread is basically a rant. Yes, you did “ask” a question at the end of your first post, but it really was just a bunch of declarative sentences about how awful cyclists can be, which kinda comes off as trolling. But I hope you stick around and get a better feel for the forum and the members here, as there is a wealth of knowledge about all things cycling. People will respond to you better, however, if you ease into grouch mode (which is a perfectly acceptable mode, particularly among bike commuters) rather than turning it up to 11 from the get-go. Is that fair?

[Amalitza]

No one said it *never* happens; but that it’s rare, not the biggest safety concern out there, and not the fault of bicyclists if someone in a car decides to engage in violent, illegal, potentially deadly assault. When idiot cyclists break the law, it’s not only their fault but also somehow says something bad about all cyclists, and when violent drivers break the law, that’s also the fault of cyclists? That seems to be what you’re saying, and it makes no sense.

@creadinger 27055 wrote:

If you get run down by a driver, it is VERY unlikely it’s because he’s a homicidal, road raging maniac that got set off by a rogue cyclist. It is much MORE likely it’s someone just checking e-mail or trying to plug in directions on their smart phone and not paying attention. A couple of tragic stories you may have heard about does not make it statistically significant enough for you to care. And placing the blame on law breaking cyclists as a cause for someone else CHOOSING to be a homicidal, road raging maniac and go after you is in poor taste too.

Violent lawbreakers in cars have also been known to run other cars off the road, and even shoot at them, for such minor infractions as accidentally cutting them off in traffic. It is also not a statistically significant thing, and is not something I particularly worry about as I am commuting every morning by car among many other people commuting by car who are constantly constantly constantly changing lanes at high speed with little to no warning, often resulting in cutting other drivers off in traffic. Nor is it something I, as a driver, feel in any way responsible for because the other person also happens to be a driver. This is not a bicycle vs. car issue, it’s a try not to do too many stupid things on the road, and if someone else does do something stupid on the road, don’t try to kill them over it issue.

You actually got quite a bit of advice. It is mostly of the “not much you can do about but look to your own actions” variety, which may not be what you wanted to hear, but it is actually the truth,whether you are travelling by car, bike, on foot, motorcycle, city bus, etc. You can’t control what other people do, you can only try to be prepared for it by travelling defensively and being aware of your surroundings.

[dasgeh]

@ml85 27145 wrote:

Well then sorry for wasting everyone’s time. And FYI, if you feel the need to just insult and talk down to someone, rather than provide constructive feedback, you’re more than welcome to not say anything.

You know how you see some people being absolute jerks on a bike and you really hope that other people (peds, drivers, other cyclists) don’t think that all cyclists are jerks because of the actions of some.

Well, there are some people on this forum that post things that come off as super jerky. I really hope that other people (like you) don’t think that everyone on this forum is a jerk because of the actions of some.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@dasgeh 27154 wrote:

You know how you see some people being absolute jerks on a bike and you really hope that other people (peds, drivers, other cyclists) don’t think that all cyclists are jerks because of the actions of some.

Well, there are some people on this forum that post things that come off as super jerky. I really hope that other people (like you) don’t think that everyone on this forum is a jerk because of the actions of some.

My ears are burning.

[Certifried]

@ml85 27145 wrote:

Well then sorry for wasting everyone’s time. And FYI, if you feel the need to just insult and talk down to someone, rather than provide constructive feedback, you’re more than welcome to not say anything.

http://www.tbd.com/blogs/tbd-on-foot/2011/09/d-c-driver-intentionally-strikes-a-bicyclist-in-waba-s-new-video-12678.html

I, too, have only been on this forum for a short time. I’ve come to see that the cyclists here are far from the average cyclist. They’re responsible ambassadors of the community. Your first post was seething with anger, venom, and disdain for “all cyclists”.

—>>> Some Bicyclists Make All Bicyclists Look Bad <---- Now your latest post is additionally hostile. I’m not sure how you expect this community to respond. I also am not sure if you’re pointing the finger in the right direction concerning “insult and talk down to someone”.

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